h I hadn't had in days. But it wasn't easy to feel happy, not with my mom's face in my mind, her absence weighin

His tone shifted as soon as I walked in. One minute, he was hopeful; the next, he was doubtful. We danced a

Belle sat up front. The radio played faintly in the background

ng actress Izalea Benson has

Spoken so

hed to tur

I said

broadcast continued: "...her contract with the AB

seat. My name, my life, dissected like gossi

sed. I had a sinking fe

n?" My voice came out t

. "I said, how long?" I re

hifting in his seat. "I'm jus

lle. Her face

didn't know how to tell yo

l me everything," I s

whispered. "It wo

I couldn't. I was

nager. He decl

t be true then," I murmured,

the tears that wouldn't stop forming. Each step toward my apartment felt h

ow. It looked... happy. I brought it inside, set it on the kitchen counter. For a moment

ts decaying body lay beside a photo of me, my face covered in streaks of red

lost their grip on the box, and it tumbled to the floor. The picture frame hit the tiles, and the glas

le to move closer.

screen. I rewound the footage, eyes scanning eve

t an empty hallway. Either someone had avoi

felt quiet,

it get

a few times since the scandal, just quick check-ins

, stepping into the kitchen, the smell

he covered her nose. "

," I said, my

to. She grabbed a bag, gloves, anything she co

it. You're

n't take long. Th

ed. "I don't know what

my shoulder. "You won

ooked at me, confused. "What news? Other t

Maybe because, deep down, I didn't fully believe i

heavy silence befo

our mom?" she

image of my mom flashing in my min

ing," I said fin

. "Izalea, what? Have

got... they said no cops. They're using h

o public. Put her picture out th

Don't you remember the scandal? It'll only make things worse. The media

red at me,

"This... this isn't just harassment anymor

single word from her. It's like they've stolen even the chance to hop

, you must stay strong... for her. But what now

through again. "Dominique is handling it. There'

ox... it doesn't feel like them. Not the same peop

trying to scare y

t part? It w

or a beat, then stood up suddenly. "Izalea, I h

ir sh

ed, already reaching for my

. "No. It's fine. I mean... no

n't matter. I w

napped, softer than a sho

d. Her tone didn't ma

it back, but instead, she just gave a q

en the last bit of steadiness with her. I stood ther

real, and a lot more lonely. I couldn't stay he

lled Dominique. I didn't know what Dominique could do. But